Dorchester County History and Information

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |

The exact date and legal origin of Dorchester County are unknown, but it was in existence by February 16, 1668/69, when a writ was issued to the county sheriff by the Lord Proprietary and was formed as an Original County. The County was named for a form of Dorset; the Earl of Dorset. a family friend of the Calverts (the founding family of the Maryland colony). The County Seat is Cambridge. There are gaps in the court records. Some were probably lost in a fire in 1852. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Dorchester County are Caroline County (north), Sussex County, Delaware (northeast), Wicomico County (east), Somerset County (southeast), Talbot County (northwest).

Dorchester CountyCities Include Cambridge. Towns Include Brookview, Church Creek, East New Market, Eldorado, Galestown, Hurlock, Secretary, Vienna.Communities Include Bishops Head-Toddville, Crapo, Crocheron, Elliott-Salem, Fishing Creek-Hoopersville, Linkwood, Madison-Woolford, Rhodesdale, Taylors Island, Wingate. (Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government.)

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Records at the County Courthouse

See Also Maryland Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Search Maryland Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

Government records of Dorchester County are available in Original, Microfilm and Digital formats from the Maryland State Archives The Official County website is located at http://www.docogonet.com/index.php?page=local_government.See also Courthouse History.

NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. There are gaps in the court records. Some were probably lost in a fire in 1852.

Dorchester County Register of Wills/ Clerk of Orphan's Court has Probate Records from 1852 and is located at the courthouse, 206 High St., Cambridge, MD 21613;

The Register of Wills is responsibl for appointing personal representatives to administer decedents estates and for overseeing the proper and timely administration of these proceedings. We also perform the following duties: assist and advise the public in the preparation of all required forms; maintain and preserve the permanent record of all proceedings; serve as the Clerk to the Orphans Court; track estates and refer delinquent matters to the Court; determine and collect inheritance taxes and probate fees/court costs; audit accounts of personal representatives and guardians; and, verify compliance with court orders.

Dorchester County Circuit Court Clerk has Land Records from 1669 and Marriage Records from earliest to 1919 and is located at the courthouse, 206 High Street, P.O. Box 150, Cambridge, Maryland 21613 . Phone Number: 410-228-0481, 410-228-0480

The Clerk's responsibilities include supervising Clerk's office personnel in the civil, criminal, courtroom clerks, business license, marriage license, land records, and juvenile units.

There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include: Maryland Calendar of Wills, Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850 and Maryland Marriages, 1667-1899.

Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Maryland

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Division of Vital Records Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, 6550 Reisterstown Rd., Reistertown Road Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21215; (410) 764-3038 or (800), 832-3277, Fax: (410) 358-0738. The Division of Vital Records of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issues certified copies of birth, death, fetal death, and marriage certificates for events that occur in Maryland. The Division also provides divorce verifications. The Division provides information on procedures to follow for registering an adoption, legitimation, or an adjudication of paternity.

RECORDS AVAILABILITY AND COST

  • Birth Certificates: The state of Maryland began issuing certificates for births since Aug 1898. Birth certificates for individuals born in Maryland after 1939 are also available for same day service at local health departments in all jurisdictions except Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County. The State of Maryland Archives has Birth certificates since 1875 for Baltimore City and 1898 for Maryland counties.
    • Cost is $12.00 per certificate, payment is payable to the Division of Vital Records. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Death Certificates:The state of Maryland began issuing certificates for deaths since since 1969. Within 30 days of a death, copies of the record may also be obtained from the local health department in which the funeral director filed the death certificate, with the exception of Baltimore City and Baltimore County health departments. You must apply in person at the appropriate local health department. The State of Maryland Archives has Death certificates prior to 1969.
    • Cost is $12.00 per certificate, payment is payable to the Division of Vital Records. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Marriage Certificates: The state of Maryland began issuing certificates for marriage since since Jan 1, 1990. The State of Maryland Archives has Marriage certificates since 1640. Marriage Certificates are availible since before Jan 1, 1990 from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the license was issued.
    • Cost: $12.00 from the Division of Vital Records, payment is payable to the Division of Vital Records. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Contact the Maryland Archives and the Clerk of the Circuit Court for fees.
  • Divorce Certificates: The Division of Vital Records issues verification only since Jan 1961. Certified copies should be available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.
    • Cost: $12.00 from the Division of Vital Records, payment is payable to the Division of Vital Records. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court for fees.

ORDERING RECORDS

  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Order In Person:  Birth certificates for individuals with valid, government-issued photo identification who were born in Maryland are available for same day service at the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. Same day service is also available at local health departments in all jurisdictions except Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County for individuals born after 1939.
  • Order By Mail: Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. However, people are urged to allow sufficient time for delivery for all birth/death records. Mail a check or money order of $12.00 for each certified certificate. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address: The Division of Vital Records, 6550 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown Road Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21215. Please include return address on envelope and application form. Allow 3 to 6 weeks for the search by mail for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records.

The Maryland State Archives maintains many records that are invaluable for biographical and genealogical research. These include birth records, adoption records, marriage records, divorce records, and death records, and some indices to these records.

Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Maryland

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Dorchester County, Maryland are 1790 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850 ,1860 ,1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.

Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Dorchester County, Maryland are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Maryland Census, 1772-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 Federal Census Index; 1800 Federal Census Index; 1810 Federal Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1850 Slave Schedules; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1860 Slave Schedules; 1890 Naval Veterans; Early Census Index.
  • Maryland Colonial Census, 1776: Granted by the King of England to George Calvert in 1632, Maryland was home to nearly 300,000 people before the Revolutionary War. This database is a transcription of a colonial census taken in 1776.
  • Dorchester County, Maryland Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Maryland showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Maryland showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. The Maryland Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Maps. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Maps by clicking the link below:

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County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Maryland

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Available at the Maryland State Archives with index is a Maryland tax assessment of 1783, which is “more complete” than the 1776 or 1778 “censuses”. Robert W. Barnes and Bettie Stirling Carothers abstracted the 1783 tax list of Baltimore County, Maryland but while it has some omissions, it serves as an index to photocopies of the originals published as Maryland Tax List 1783 Baltimore County from the collection of the Maryland Historical Society (Philadelphia: Historic Publications, 1970). The counties of Calvert, Cecil, Harford, and Talbot are covered by Bettie Carothers, comp., 1783 Tax List of Maryland (Part I: Cecil, Talbot, Harford, and Calvert Counties) (Lutherville, Md.: Pub. by compiler, 1977). Furthermore, there is a two part index to the 1783 list at the state archives, one by names of property owners, the other by names of the tracts.

The earliest tax records are to be found among the proprietary papers, dating from the 1630s. Some early tax records have been published, such as Raymond B. Clark, Jr., and Sara Seth Clark, comps., Baltimore County, Maryland, tax list, 1699-1706. At the Maryland State Archives is a tax list for St. Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel County, 1764-66. Also here are the surviving 1798 U.S. direct tax records, for Anne Arundel County (indexed), Baltimore County and City, and the counties of Caroline, Charles, Harford, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, Saint Mary's, Somerset, and Talbot. Richard J. Cox edited Name Index to the Baltimore City Tax Records: 1798-1808 Of the Baltimore City Archives, (Baltimore: Baltimore City Archives and Records Management Office, 1981).

Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

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County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Maryland Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Dorchester County Historical Society, 902 LaGrange Ave., Cambridge, MD 21613 - 2009, (410) 228-7953, e-mail: dchs@verizon.net
  • Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401
  • Maryland Genealogical Society, 201 W. Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-4674.
    Publishes the Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin Quarterly.
  • The Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument Street, Baltimore MD 21201-4674
    Has published a quarterly magazine Maryland Historical Magazinefor over 90 years
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Maryland Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Maryland

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Dorchester County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Dorchester County Tombstone Transcription Project.

A search for church records should begin with Directory of Maryland church records (Westminster, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1987), arranged by county and giving a range of dates of available records for over 2,600 churches with mailing addresses. Also helpful are The First Parishes of the Province of Maryland (Baltimore: The Norman, Remington Co., 1923).

The largest collection of church records is at the Maryland State Archives, with a consolidated index, and many are at the Maryland State Archives, which has various original and microfilmed records, many with indexes. Some church records have been published in the Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin or in individual books, such as those for St. Paul's in Baltimore and for many German churches in the western counties.

Although Catholicism is very important to the history of Maryland, the disenfranchisement of Catholics after the establishment of the Anglican church in 1692 largely contributed to the lack of record keeping prior to the Revolutionary War. One source for St. Marys County in the 1700s, however, is Catholic Families of Southern Maryland: Records of Catholic Residents of St. Mary's County in the Eighteenth Century (1980; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985). Records of the German churches and the Society of Friends are very good. The latter were early settlers of Maryland, along with Anglicans and Catholics. Quaker records in Maryland, (Annapolis: Hall of Records Commission, 1966) is an excellent guide to the original and microfilmed Friends' records at the Maryland State Archives. Some Quaker records were published in Kenneth Carroll, Quakerism on the Eastern Shore (Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1970) and other records are at the Maryland Historical Society, the state archives, and the Friends Historical Library in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

The Maryland State Archives has indexes to cemetery records for various time periods. Some have been published in the Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin and other journals and in individual works covering large parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, St. Marys, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. A great number of grave marker inscriptions have been transcribed by members of the Maryland DAR and will be found at the Maryland Historical Society and the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. See also Historic graves of Maryland and the District of Columbia (1908; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1967).

Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Dorchester County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Dorchester County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

There is a rich and diverse history associated with Dorchester County. Native Americans called this area home long before explorers or traders from England and Spain explored these shores. Settlers from England began to claim lands in the mid 1600’s under land grants from Lord Baltimore and by 1669 Dorchester County was recognized as a County. The County was named for the Earl of Dorset, a family friend of the Calverts (the family name of Lord Baltimore). Dorchester County is called "The Heart of the Eastern Shore" because its mid-shore location and its geographic configuration is heart-shaped. Throughout history, renowned individuals have called Dorchester County home: Patty Cannon, a ruthless slave trader; Harriet Tubman, the "Moses of her people" who helped over 300 slaves find freedom through the Underground Railroad during the Civil War; and Annie Oakley, famed sharpshooter.
The County operates under the Charter Home Rule form of government and the affairs of the County are managed by five County Council Members, one from each of the five Council districts defined within the County. Meetings of the County Council are held weekly, each Tuesday evening at 6:15 PM in Room 110 of the County Office Building. The agenda and the minutes of each week’s proceedings are public record.

With a goal of preserving the County’s rural atmosphere and uniqueness, opportunities abound to bring new, clean industries to the County to broaden and support the needs of the local workforce. In an effort to attract new business, it is important to note that as the "heart of Chesapeake Country", Dorchester County is easily accessible by way of U.S. Route 50 from Baltimore and Washington D.C. The County is further accessible by way of U.S. Route 13 from the New England states, New York, Philadelphia, and areas to the south. Served by the Maryland and Delaware Railroad, the area is ideal for the location of businesses serving multiple locations. The area is also served by the Dorchester County Airport and the Salisbury-Wicomico County Airport, a USAir site. Bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Choptank River, Dorchester County enjoys waterways which are navigable by barge and heavily used by sailing and yachting enthusiasts. Living here, it is sometimes easy to take the location for granted. Dorchester County enjoys some of the country’s finest seafood, most challenging wildfowl hunting opportunities, and breath-taking natural areas. Blackwater Wildlife Refuge offers excellent opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. The Dorchester County Department of Tourism can provide visitors with up-to-date information regarding the events and points of interest that make Dorchester County a prime destination for travelers to the Eastern Shore.

A tax exemption is in place for manufacturing and warehousing inventory. Enterprise Zone incentives are available. A five year phase-out of the personal property taxes on manufacturing equipment is underway. These incentives are significant to businesses looking to locate within the County and the County is examining other incentive programs to further promote the economic development of Dorchester County.

Other key factors play into successful economic development. Training and educating potential workers is a major concern. This process starts in the local County school system with both academic and technological training. Alternative education opportunities are available at several private schools located in the County. Training may continue at Chesapeake College, a community college located in Wye Mills with a satellite campus in Cambridge, or at one of the many colleges and universities located within community distance including Salisbury State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Wilmington College and others. Specialized training can be obtained at such facilities as the Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies located only four miles west of Cambridge on the Choptank River. The Dorchester County Career and Technical Education Center, located in Cambridge, offers courses in auto mechanics, body and fender repair, carpentry, electronics, horticulture, medical services, food services, HVAC service and repair, diesel and marine mechanics, welding and masonry.

Dorchester County has a school system of which it may be proud - the challenge is to make sure that the young people completing their education have a place to work and an ability to enjoy a superior quality of life.

Transportation systems are in place which provide workforce accessibility to most regions of the County. With its abundance of forests and waterways, recreational opportunities abound and help to provide an attractive lifestyle to individuals currently living in the County or considering relocating to the County

The County seeks to continue to assist existing companies such as Allen Family foods (poultry processor), Bloch & Guggenheimer (pickle processor), Cambridge, Inc. (conveyor belt producer), Coldwater Seafood Corp. (seafood processor), Dorchester General Hospital (health care provider ), Hi-Tech Plastics, Inc. (developer of custom injection moldings), L’Air Liquide (a division of Liquid Air Corp. and a producer of specialty gases), Visual Concepts Plus (fabricator of display furnishings), and Western Publishing Company (printer). Assistance to existing companies ranges from tax abatements to communication and coordination efforts on the part of the County’s Economic Development Office with various State and Federal grant programs designed to accommodate existing businesses.

Agriculture is a key industry in Dorchester County; again, it is an industry so much a part of the character of the County that care needs to be taken not to miss the opportunities to consider industries which can serve and compliment that very key component of the Dorchester County lifestyle and community.

Marketing efforts are focused on industrial sites located throughout the County. Sites ranging from one acre to 150 acres remain available.

The Town of Hurlock, located in the northern part of the County and at the center of the Delmarva Peninsula, has acreage available in its industrial park. Both the Chesapeake Industrial Park in Cambridge and the Hurlock Industrial Park have been designated as Enterprise Zones by the State of Maryland, providing other beneficial tax incentives to both employers and employees.

Courthouse History

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